On Lake Whakamarino (a lake used for making hydroelectricity). I was paddling around in a kayak, and Dad was using an inflatable boat.
We went out on Lake Waikaremoana with a fishing guide.
We went on a hike which led you through/around some really big caves and rocks. The history of this area includes a massive earthquake, which crumbled part of a really big bluff. This change in the landscape filled in an enormous gorge, which had been the main outlet from the lake. This resulted in the lake level rising 600 feet, and submerging heaps of forest. While we were out on the lake our guide showed us some parts of this 'petrified forest' which poke out of the lake.
Lake Waikaremoana
Mokau Falls. The road goes almost right over this waterfall. It is a lot more full of water than usual because it had rained heaps recently.
The road we drove in on. After the heavy rain there were some parts of the road which were covered in little rocks which had fallen off the hill on the side of the road.
This is where we camped one night. We just slept in MAVY (our van), because you can take the seats out in the back.
On our last day we went for a bike on a track leading us through some amazing native bush, and eventually to a big waterfall (this isn't the one at the end, this was just on the way).
Part of the track
This is the one at the end
On our way home we stopped and went on a walk into the Whirinaki forest. There were heaps of ferns, and native trees.
So much green!
I love the outline of the fern against the sky.
These are some of the pics Dad took
Some of our views on the drive home... The mountain you can see in the distance is Mount Taranaki (the one we live by)
Other than all of the time we spent outside, we listened to almost all of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at nighttime and on the drive home. One night we ran MAVY out of batteries by listening to it for too long! :)
